Crash helmet



y 1952 c. TUCKER ETAL "2,597,764

CRASH HELMET Filed Aug. 29, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l lrroe Nd Y y 20, 1952c: TUCKER ETAL 2,597,764

CRASH HELMET Filed Aug. 29, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 LOWCLL 4. 1146,12.

lrraruley y 1952 c. TUCKER ETAL CRASH HELMET 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug.29 1949 Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED STATES CRASH HELMET Charles Tucker,La Crescenta, and Lowell A. Lyle, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., assignors toNorthrop Aircraft, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif., a corporation of CaliforniaOur invention relates to crash helmets, and

more particularly to helmets suitable for use by pilots of high speedairplanes equipped with pilot ejection seats. Modern airplanes capableof reaching airspeeds of 500 M. P. H. or more, are commonly equippedwith ejection seats, which, after the cowling covering the pilot hasbeen jettisoned, can be projected outwardly away from the airplane,together with the pilot.

When ejection occurs at high speeds, the pilots body is subjected to theforces developed by the airstream, and as far as possible the pilot mustbe protected from adverse action of these forces. In addition, most highspeed airplanes land at relatively high speed and in case of a crash inlanding, the pilots body again must be protected as far as possible frominjury. Both of the above procedures can subject the pilot to extremelyhigh decelerations, and it is an object of the present invention toprovide a helmet for the use of airplane pilots giving maximumprotection to the face of. the pilot.

Crash helmets heretofore utilized by the pilots of high speed airplanesequipped with ejection seats, offer good protection to the head andskull of the pilot, but very little protection to the face. The pilotgenerally wears an oxygen mask and sometimes goggles, both of thesedevices being supported mainly on the face, and merely positioned byattachment to the helmet.

In case of loads imparted to the pilot in the facial region, the oxygenmask, the goggles, or both could. be forced against the face withinjurious results. Furthermore, when a pilot is projected into theairstream at high speeds, the airstr'eam usually will hit the pilot inthe face. Much of the facial skin area may be exposed even when mask andgoggles are worn, and this exposed skin may well be injured uponexposure to airstreams of high velocities. Again, the use of a crashhelmet having an open facial portion, permits high Velocity airtopenetrate between the helmet and the head, tending to tear the helmetfrom the head. Even if the helmet body attachments are strong enough toresist these forces, the loads created thereby must be absorbed by thepilots body. The high velocity airstream experienced during ejectionfrom an airplane also tendsto tear loose the exposed oxygen mask whichis a vital necessity at high. altitudes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide. a. helmetsuitable for airplane use providing complete protection around the face,but which at the same time provides adequate vision.

In cases of emergency during flight which would make any covering overthe face a hazard, such as a flash fire, for example, which mightblacken the face covering and thus prevent vision through it, it isdesirable that the pilot may be able to clear his face of the protector.

It is therefore still another object of the invention to provide ahelmet having a transparent load bearing portion that can readily beseparated from the remainder of the helmet.

Briefly stated, the helmet of the present invention comprises a hard,strong, and cushioned member generally fitting the head, this memberbeing. provided with a facial opening. A detachable transparent shieldis bridged across the facial opening in immovable contact with thehelmet tofform a solid covering over *the front, and a suitable cloth.member attached tothe transparent shield is arranged to complete theenclosure around the wearers chin and neck. The front cloth member alsoprovides an opening, accessible from one side, for the passage of oxygentubing to a helmet-mounted oxygen mask for which space is allowed backof the transparent shield. I

Thi invention may be more fully understood from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment thereof, and by reference to theaccompanying drawings, shown by Way of illustrationand not limitation,wherein:

Figure 1 is a left front perspective view of the present crash helmet,showing the complete assembly.

Figure 2 is a right front perspective view showing further details'ofthe same helmet assembly.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the helmet face shield and afront bib attached thereto.

Referring. first to Figures 1 and 2 for description of a specificexample, the helmet proper comprises an outer shell I of hard materialand a paddedlining 2 contoured to fit the pilots head. This helmet ispreferably constructed to conform to any commonly used type of crashhelmet offering good protection to the head, such as an outer shell oflaminated glass fabric impregnated with resin, a protective layer ofcellular cellulose acetate, a thin padding of sponge rubber, and alining of sueded leather, for example. At the two sides and top of thefacial opening, the outer shell construction provides a recess to 'forma shield bearing surface 3 which is inset from the exterior surface. Thehelmet configuration around the facial opening is very important forreasons to be discussed later.

On the inner side of the padded lining 2, a standard oxygen maskfastener 4 is provided on one side of the facial opening, and an oxygenmask hook 5 on the other side. These fittings allow an oxygen breathingmask 6 to be attached in place over the pilots nose and mouth when thehelmet is worn.

The left side of the outer shell I carries a vertical hinge receiver Iat the rear side of the facial opening and the right side of the outershell carries a shield hook 9 to the rear of the facial opening. Theshield hook 9 may be the same type as the oxygen mask hook 5, forsimplicity. A helmet zipper-half If) is secured around the lower edge ofthe outer shell I for attachment of a cloth bib to be described later.This zipper-half I9 (stitched to a cloth strip) is sewed to the helmetthrough holes provided therein. A chin strap I I (Figure 2) ispreferably provided on the helmet to fasten under the pilots chin.

A transparent face shield I4, as shown in Figure 3, is formed ofplastic, preferably laminated with two outer layers of 0.1-inch acrylicmaterial and a .05-inch inner layer of buticite to make the shieldshatterproof. The edges of the face shield I4 are provided with a rim I5consisting of glass fiber cloth folded over the plastic shield for equalwidths on each side and cemented securely with a suitable plasticcement. This rim I5 prevents the edges of the shield I4 from beingchipped, and prevents the formation of cracks which would likely spreadacross the shield.

On the left side of the face shield I4, a hinge I6 is attached with tworivets IT. The hinge L6 includes a hinge pin I9 aligned parallel withthe rear edge of the shield and attached to the hinge I6 at the toponly. Thus the face shield I4 is connected to the helmet by insertingthe hinge pin I9 into the receiver I from the upper end thereof whilethe face shield is in the open position. The shield is then closed byswinging it to cover the facial opening in the helmet and securing it bymeans of the shield hook 9 and a shield clasp 20 located at theright-hand rear edge of the shield I4. In the embodiment illustrated,the shield clasp 20 is identical with the oxygen mask clasp, and isattached by a short elastic strap 2I to the face shield I4.

It will be especially noted that when the face shield I4 is in theclosed position, it bears solidly on the shield bearing surface 3 aroundthe upper edge and along each side. The forward edge of the outer shellI extends farther forward than the usual crash helmet for the purpose offorming a surface which will resist forces tending to deflect, twist, ormove the face shield I4 in any direction except toward the openposition. A substantially square corner 22 is made at the upper rearsides of the shield to give a tighter, more solid, fit. Also, the shieldis thus enabled to rest flush with the outer surface of the shell I.

To prevent a high velocity airstream from entering under the face shieldI4 and tending to blow the helmet or oxygen mask off, a front bib 24 isattached to the lower edge of the shield to be placed under the pilotsjacket. The front bib 24, preferably of nylon cloth, is trimmed to thedesired shape along the top and cemented to the fiberglass rim I5,leaving a narrow band 25 unattached at each side, for purposes offlexible attachment to a rear bib 26 when the complete assembly isdonned. The rim I5 and the outer shell I may now be finished in anydesired manner or color.

Provisions for an oxygen breathing tube 21 and 4 an exhalation tube 29to pass through the front bib 24 comprise two holes 30 in the center ofthe bib, the upper one having access to the unhinged side of the shieldI4 by means of a slit 3| carrying snap fasteners 52 on each side.

The rear bib 26, similar to the front bib 24, covers the back of thepilots neck and is provided with a bib zipper 34 to mate with the helmetzipper-half Ill. In addition, extra snap fasteners 32a are installed fora short distance along the right side to fasten to the right side of thefront bib 24, and a quick-release zipper 35 is installed near the top ofthe left side of both the front and rear bibs to close the gap at thispoint. The lower end of the rear bib 26 is placed under the flyingjacket like the front bib 24.

When it is desired to remove the face shield M in an emergency, the snapfasteners 32 and 320. are first separated, and the quick-release zipper35 is pulled apart. The shield is then unhooked and swung open upon thehinge I6. A slight rearward pressure on the shield when in the openposition will snap the hinge pin I9 in two at a shallow notch 36 out outin the pin just adjacent to its attachment to the hinge piece on theface shield I4. The oxygen mask 6 and tubing are left in place when theface shield I4 and front bib 24 only are removed.

Microphone wires 3'! goin inside the standard oxygen mask C pass throughthe front bib 24 just adjacent to the breathing tube 21. Earphoneconnections (not shown) are routed rearwardly and emerge from the backof the helmet near its lower edge. The shape of the helmet over the earsprovides for installation of the built-in earphones in the usual mamier.

Normal removal of the face shield I4 is also easy to effect, this beingaccomplished by merely lifting the hinge apart after unhooking the snapfasteners and opening the shield.

As shown in Figure 3, a series of vent openings 39 may be drilledthrough the upper part of the face shield rim I5. The upper insideportion of this rim I5 fits snugly against the helmet, but the holes arepositioned low enough to allow a small air passage where the edge roll4i] of the padded lining 2 curves inwardly. These vent openings 39 helpto keep the air temperature behind the face shield !4 from rising asubstantial amount above that of the outside air.

Thus it is seen that maximum face protection is afforded with thepresent crash helmet, the face shield being built to withstand sharpblows as well as preventing high velocity air from injuring the pilotsface or tending to tear the shield and helmet from the pilots head. Itis also to be noted that the helmet is non-metallic in its constructionand that no metal is used in the entire assembly except for the smallhinge and shield hook, thus making for a safer unit not susceptible topermanent dents or sharp projections in the event of an accident.

Any other style of shield fastener providing quick detachment may beemployed within the scope of this invention, as well as modification inthe type of emergency release hinge and bib fasteners.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated and desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the inventioninto effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its formsor modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A crash helmet comprising an interiorly padded shock resisting andabsorbing outer shell shaped to fit the head of a wearer and havingfrontal and lateral edges defining a facial opening, said edges beingshaped to form a substantially right-angle recess along the exteriorlimits thereof; a transparent load-bearing face shield covering saidfacial opening with said recess contacting said face shield along theperipheral extents of the sides and top thereof as well as along theinside border of said sides and top to confine said face shield againstinward, upward, and lateral movement, quick-release hinge means securingone side of said face shield in pivotal relationship to said outershell, latching means at the other side of said face shield to hold saidshield closed against said frontal and lateral edges as recited herein,whereby said shield is prevented from deflecting relative to said outershell, said quick-release hinge means comprising a hinge pin receivercarried by said outer shell and a cantilever hinge pin carried by saidface shield and adapted to engage in said receiver for normalinstallation and removal of said shield, said pin having a frangibleportion of reduced diameter adjacent its carrier, whereby said shieldmay be removed more quickly in an emergency byopening beyond its normalopen position to snap said hinge pin in two and thereby break theconnection at said hinge means.

2. A crash helmet comprising an interiorly padded shock resisting andabsorbing outer shell shaped to fit the head of a wearer and havingfrontal and lateral edges defining a facial opening, a transparent faceshield covering and closing said facial opening, quick-release hingemeans securing one side of said face shield in pivotal relationship tosaid outer shell, latching means at the other side of said face shieldto hold said shield closed against said frontal and lateral edges, saidquick-release hinge means comprising a hinge pin receiver carried bysaid outer shell and a cantilever hinge pin carried by said face shieldand adapted to engage in said receiver for normal installation andremoval of said shield, said pin having a frangible portion of reduceddiameter adjacent its carrier, whereby said shield may be removed morequickly in an emergency by opening beyond its normal open position tosnap said hinge pin in two and thereby break the connection at saidhinge means.

CHARLES TUCKER. LOWELL A. LYLE, JR.

REFERENEES CITED The following references are of record in the idle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,077,272 Graybill et al Nov. 4,1913 1,113,062 Sparks Oct. 6, 1914 1,272,537 Sample July 16, 19182,388,205 Bernheim et a1. Oct. 30, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 159,651 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1933 853,378 France Dec. 7, 1939

